Help please...I need encouragement

[sugarfreeone]

Hi everyone....I am back again...and although I am about 30 pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of my Atkins Journey (which started late December 04), I lost my way for a while and have had no losses since June because I got carb creep...I am having a hard time sticking to the plan and so I restarted induction 10 days ago...I have had several major stumbles during this time. I am just getting so discouraged. I get really angry during the first 3 or 4 days of induction and all I can think about is the deprivation I feel...its awful....I have an intermediate goal of reaching 160 pounds by December....so I only have 15 to lose in over a three month period...I could surpass that goal if I could just stop screwing up. ...but I just keep getting off track and binging on SUGAR AGH!!!! You do not even want to know how many mini twix I ate last night....ugh! AND they didnt even taste that good.....

My husband is not on this diet (although he really SHOULD BE) so he brings home the crap I can not eat....and it calls me late at night (damned ice cream and chocolate!!@!!) I have asked him to remove the candy from the house and he is willing to do that....I feel like a junkie looking for her fix when I lose control and binge like that....its not good I really end up feeling like a big loser (in the wrong way)

Any words of encouragement or suggestions you have would be so appreciated. I am feeling pretty down on myself right about now....I am trying to focus on the positives, but it is just hard right now....

Thanks,
Kat

[knicknack]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

Hi Sugarfree-

First off, welcome back!!!

The thing to remember is that you can't beat yourself up for messing up, it just makes all that sugar 'forbidden', which makes it even sweeter. We've all messed up, or we woudlln't be in this forum, would we?

Beating yourself up over it or making yourself feel guilty puts a lot of pressure on you. You need to just be like 'oh well, stupid twix, onwards and downwards!'

My suggestions would be this:

1. come here and post a daily post of your progress. post in the other threads too! These people are incredible for support and encouragement and picking you back up when you fall off that wagon! The more you post here, the more you'll feel like others are with you on this journey, and that you have someone you can rely on to be there for you. We aren't going to be mad if you fail, we'll just tell you alright, what's done is done, now get up and have some cheese!

2. Make that attitude your own: what's done is done. You need to change your thought pattern from 'OMG I can't eat that' which will make you want it even more to 'I want to eat healthy and that isn't going to get me to that goal.' Think positive thoughts! Instead of 'wow, i suck, i ate twix bars,' think 'i've done this before I can do it again. This is but one small setback on the path!'

3. Well, I had a third, but now I've gone and forgotten it. Help me out folks!

[Finelly]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

What the Knickster said. Exactly what she said.

And as a sugar addict, my advice is to prepare a couple of splenda treats to keep in the fridge. If you get a craving or unduly tempted, have a spoonful or two. It works. I haven't had any sugar in 13 weeks.

You CAN CAN CAN do this!!!

[Elizellen]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

I would prepare lots of high fat snacks so you can treat yourself to one when you feel like you are going to succumb to the sweet 'treats'.

I acknowledge that some people find they can cope with Atkins by having desserts ( to Finelly here), but unless you know you are one of those lucky ones please make sure you are not a person who can't stay on track before going the splenda treats route.

Have a look at the articles linked from this thread about how some of us react to even artificial sweeteners with an insulin response
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=5922

If you can starve your sugar monster by not having any sweet things (even splenda) for a week or so on induction you might find it easier.

And if you do decide to use splenda don't forget the 3 servings daily limit including any used in drinks and cooking.

[Terry]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

I second and third what they all said. Take the time to check out the stickys at the top of this forum as there is lots of great advise for those of us on our nth time around here.

I cannot stress any stronger that coming here can be your life line............... not just for the good but for the bad and all those frustrating moments when you begin to cave. It truely is a withdrawal from all the sugars and it is like overcoming an addiction.

Hang tough.

If we need to we can send out Finellys siamese attack cats to whip your butt back into shape.

[wannabethintoo]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

The first thing you need to do is get the junk out of the house if it's tempting you. It's hard enough without having to look at that stuff all the time.

You can do this!

[mcotton]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

Do things to keep you deterred away from the sweets and binges. Post a fat pic of yourself on th frige. Everyday write down why you are proud of yourself for getting through another cheat free day. Post everyday on the forum. Keep high fat snacks around to munch on instead. If you positively are craving the sweet stuff(stay away from all of it for about ten days and the cravings virtually disappear)and are becoming way too frustrated. Sugar free jello helps or even one of the deserts on the recipe list helps. Just eating a couple to three bites of the sugar free deserts help. When you are wanting to snack, get up and drink a big glass of water.
You are stronger than food. You are not a slave to it. Your anger and frustrations come from the addiction you still have to carbs and sugars. I went through it and knew I would. Staying away from it helps me a lot. Post your frustrations. Let us help you through it. We all falter and stumble. You know you want this woe to succeed for you and it will.

[cleochatra]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

{{{{Sugarfreeone}}} It is so good to see you back! I thought you'd forgotten all about us. (that was the guilt phase)

Now, no more guilt!

#1. You need motivation. I see you have a goal. I'd love for you to come and join the Mid-Year Resolution Challenge in the challenges section (to get there click the link at the bottom of my siggy line). We all have a goal, and we're all shooting for December 31 as being the night we'll shine in our gorjussness!

Come be gorjuss with us, dahlink!

We're discussing strategies to get us through the holidays and each day is a day for encouragement. Be sure to skim the main thread for the jist of it, then come to the most recent thread for the daily visits, good vibes, and share your happy and sad moments as we all move towards our goals on December 31!


Now for the rest of my message. I agree with what everyone is saying. If you want angry during induction, that would be me. After pigging out for 3 months and gaining over 40 pounds, to suddenly go back on Atkins? OMG! My body led a revolt on my big hinder. I won the battle, but it was tough!

You are a junkie looking for a fix (as you said...and sugar is the WORST). Your husband probably thinks it's funny that you have a hard time staying away from the sugar, or he's being cavalier in thinking that if you really want to, you'll refrain from it. WHATEVAH!

Take action: Place his JUNK in separate cabinets than yours. If he has icecream, put it on a shelf at the bottom of the freezer with all the healthy stuff on top. Same with anything in the fridge.

Get it outta your face, and it'll stay off of your hips, sistah!

I've seen you rock this way of eating before, and I've seen you encourage others. I challenge you, sugar-free one, to do a clean induction for 14 days. I further challenge you to join me. I've got about 30 pounds to lose by New Year's too. We can do this together! We'll be twins (albeit I'm the less cute one.. *sniff sniff* mom always did like you best! *sob*)

[Sarah1341]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

How are you doing today Sugarfreeone?

[sugarfreeone]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

Hi guys! Thanks so much for your helpful suggestions!

I've been in bed for the last three days sick sick sick...its a bad cold my husband brought home (gee thanx hubby!), its not induction flu (I wish lol)...I have not done very well I am afraid to confess. I have been trying...the first half of the day I do well..it is in the evenings that I blow it. I feel crappy, so my resolve just goes out the window.....some of it HAS been emotional eating....I know this with certainty.....

I am going to go back to bed now....hopefully tomorrow I will be feeling well enough to spend the first part of the day preparing some induction friendly meals and snacks ahead of time....

Also, I think the challenge sounds good cleochatra! I will sign back on tomorrow and check out all of the details!

Thanks again palz!
((((((HUGS))))))
Kat

[Finelly]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

When our bodies are vulnerable, so are our minds. Known fact. The fact that you have the Creepy Cruddy Cold just makes it that much harder to toe the line, woe wise.

I think one of the hardest things in the world is to change one's "Comfort Foods". Mine have always involved carbs: melted cheese on toast, grits with a soft boiled egg, Haazgen Dagz Coffee icecream, fettucini Alfredo, sour dough bread with copious quantities of butter.

When I'm tired and achey or just tired or just achey or just BLAH, that's what my mind tells me to eat. And it's the one time when my mind refuses to contemplate alternatives.

I've had to work hard to switch my Comfort Menu. Now is not the time for you to do that, of course, since you are in the throes of ickiness. But when you get better, try to make a list of things you can eat safely when sick. I like a fried egg on flax bread, zuchini fritters (made with ginger and a touch of sweetener) with sour cream, and melted swiss cheese on just about anything.

Feel better!

[healthandharmony]

Re: Help please...I need encouragement

Sending lots of positive thoughts and a big hug.